Double-cylinder engine.



No. 680,382. Patented Aug. l3, 190i.

' C. S. JOHNSON.

DOUBLE CYLINDER ENGINE.

(Application filed. Jan. 26, 1901.)

4 SheetsSheet I.

(No Model.)

I I l slvwewtoz @Z. Mei/0M,

TH: n'onms versus w. woYaumu. WASHINGTON. ay 1:.

no. 680,382. Patented Aug. l3, mm.

- c. s. JOHNSON. v

DOUBLE CYLINDER ENGINE.

(Application filed Jan. 26, 1901.)

4 Sheets-Sheet 2.

(No Model.)

F W w m m .miiz\ mwm m us ca. Priorourna. wnsum No. 680,382. Patenteq!Aug. I3, l90l.

C. S; JOHNS-0N. DOUBLE CYLINDER ENGINE.

(Application filed Jan. 96, 1801.)

(No Model.) 4 Shanty-Sheet 3.

gnuenl'oz No. 680,382.- Patented Aug. l3', l90l..

c. s. JOHNSON. DOUBLE CYLINDER ENGINE.

(Application filed Jan. 26, 1901.) 7 (lie Model.) 4 Sheets-Sheet 4.

MW 0M1 Qou N M It h NS u. v mfi Wvhumam UNITED STATES PATENT ntros.

CHARLES JOHNSON, OF BROWNVILLE, MAINE.

DOUBLE-CYLINDER ENGINE.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 680,382, dated August13, 1901.

Application filed January 26, 1901. Serial No. 44,902. (No model.)

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that 1, CHARLES S. JOHNSON, a citizen of the United States,residing at Brownville, in the county of Piscataquis and State of Maine,have invented new and useful Improvements in Double-Cylinder Engines, ofwhich the following is a specification.

This invention relates to double-cylinder engines; and the primaryobject of the invention is to interpose a novel form of gearing betweenthe pistons and the main driving-shaft of the engine, whereby theordinary fly-wheel may be dispensed with and continuous power impartedto the driving-shaft. By dispensing with the fiy-wheel the engine isrendered considerably more compact, requiring less room, and by means ofthe mechanism hereinafter described continuous motion isimparted to thedriving-shaft, and the deadcenters incident to the. use ofoperatingcranks are dispensed with. The mechanism by means of which thereciprocatory movement of the piston-rods is converted into rotarymotion comprises a pair of screw-shafts which are mounted for rotarymovement in a suitable frame and which are both geared to a commondriving or driven shaft. The piston-rods are connected to .sleeves whichsurround the screw-shafts, and saidsleeves carry operating devices whichengage with the screw-shafts. The pistons are valved so as toreciprocate alternately, and the operating devices for the screw-shaftsare so arranged that the respective screw-shafts will be operated incorresponding strokes of the pistons, so that when one operating deviceis performing its work the other operating device is being retracted,and in this way one or the other of the operating devices is always inaction, thereby imparting continuous motion to the driving-shaft of theengine.

The detailed object and advantages of the invention will appear morefully in the course of the ensuing description.

. The invention consists in a double-cylinder engine embodying certainnovel features and details of construction and arrangement of parts, ashereinafter fully described, illustrated in the drawings, and distinctlypointed out in the claims hereto appended.

In the accompanying drawings, Figure 1 is a plan View of adouble-cylinder engine,

showing the improved mechanism for transmitting motion to thedriving-shaft. Fig. 2 is a side elevation of the same. Fig. 3 is avertical cross-section taken on the line 3 3 of Fig. 1. Fig. 4 is also across section through the screw-shafts, guiding-yokes, &c., taken on theline 4 4 of Fig. 1. Fig. 5 is an enlarged vertical longitudinalsectionthrough one of the sleeves and the casing carried thereby, showing therelation thereto of one of the screw-shafts .and the nut-segments whichcooperate therewith. Fig. 6 is a detail longitudinal section through oneof the screw-shafts and the nut-segments cooperating therewith. Fig. '7is a detail elevation of one of the nut-segments.

Similar numerals of reference designate corresponding parts in all thefigures of the drawings.

Referring to the drawings, 1 designates the bed-plate of thedouble-cylinder engine, upon which are mounted the twin cylinders 2,surmounted by steam-chests 3, having in communication therewith'thesteam-supply pipes 4. Thepistons contained Within the cylinders areconnected with parallel piston-rods 5, which are arranged in the samehorizontal plane and which reciprocate througha pistonrod guide 6,arranged at a suitable distance from the cylinders. Each of thepiston-rods carries a fixed collar 7, having a latera1lyprojectingWrist-pin 8, to which is pivotally connected one end of a link 9, theother end of which is journaled on a Wrist-pin 10 of a crank-arm 11,fast on one end of a rock-shaft 12, mounted in a sleeve-bearing 13,supported by and preferably formed integral with a pedestal 14,interposed between the cylinders and the piston-rod guide 6. Therock-shaft 12 is also provided at its opposite end with a lug 15, towhich is pivotally connected one end of a link 16, the other end ofwhich is pivotally attached to a wrist-pin 17, projecting laterally froma collar 18, fast on the stem 19 of one of the valves operating withinone of the steam-chests for controlling the supply of steam to thecylinder for operating the piston mounted therein. The connections abovedescribed and arranged between the piston-rods and the valve-stems areso constructed and disposed that the valve-stems are reciprocatedalternately in opposite directions and the piston-rods arecorrespondingly reciprocated alternately in opposite directions.

Each of the piston-rods is provided at its outer end with a terminallixed collar or annular flange 20, which is received in a circularrecess 21 in one end of a sleeve The collar 20 is heldin place bymeansofa keeperplate 23, which is secured in any convenient manner to the endof the sleeve 22, and in this way a swiveled joint is provided betweeneach piston-rod and its sleeve 22, it being understood ihata separatesleeve 22 is employed for each piston-rod.

24 designates an oil-hole for supplying lubricating material to theterminal collar 20.

Each of the sleeves 22 is preferably square in cross-section externallyand is mounted to to slide through a sleeved guide 25,formcd in abearing-standard 26,extending upward from a suitable support orbed-plate 27. The sleeve 22 is provided with a longitudinal bore 28, inwhich is received a power-converting screwshaft 29, as clearlyillustrated in Fig. 5. The threads of the screw-shaft 29 are so formedas to comprise an abrupt shoulder or face 30, which is substantially atright angles to the axis of the shaft, and an inclined and somewhatrounded tapering surface 31. The threads formed in the manner abovestated are designed to be engaged by a pair of oppositely-arrangednut-segments 32, each of which has its inner surface or that surfacewhich bears against the screw-shaft hollowed out or concaved, as shownat 33, and provided with ribs 34, which in effect form segments ofthreads corresponding in shape to and adapted to engage with the threadsof the screw-shaft 29. The heel end of each of the nut-segments 32 isextended laterally and provided with an opening to receive a pivot 35,which may be in the form of a pin or bolt inserted through the sleeve orcasing.

One end of the sleeve 22 is enlarged. to form a casing 36, which ishollowed out to form a chamber, in which the nut-segments 32 are mountedand adapted to be moved into and outofengagementwiththescrew-shaft. Eachof the nut-segments 32 is backed by an expansive spring 37, one end ofwhich is received in a socket or seat 38 in the casing 36, and theopposite end of which bears against its respective nut-segmentforyieldingly urging said segment in the direction of the screwshaft. Itwill now be seen that as the sleeve 22 is moved longitudinally in onedirection the nut-segments will engage positively with the screw-shaftsand serve to revolve the latter. When the sleeve is retracted or movedin the opposite direction, the nut-segments ride over the screw-shaftuntil the limit of the backward stroke of the sleeve is reached, atwhich point the nut segments or grippers are forced into engagement withthe thread of the shaft, so that when the sleeve again resumes itsoutward movement the nut-segments engage the walls of the thread andimpart power and rotation to the screw, while the nut-segments of theother screw are being drawn back to their initial startin g-point.

The casing which forms a part of the sleeve 22 is provided with upwardlyand downwardly extending arms 39, which travel in slots or guideways 40in a pair of guiding-yokes 41 and 42, 41 designating the upperguide-yoke and 42 the lower guide-yoke, said yokes being placed,respectively, above and below the horizontal plane of the screw-shaftsand rig idly connected with a central supportingstandard 43, connectedat one end to the sleeve-guide 26 and at the opposite end to a bearingstandard 44, in which the screwshafts are journaled. Each of the arms 39is provided with an aperture 45, having suitable bearings in its upperand lower walls, in

which is disposed a vertical journal or spindle 46, upon which ismounted an antifriction guide-roller 47. These guide-rollers 47 operatelongitudinally within the slots 40 of the guiding-yokes and reduce thefriction to a minimum.

The screws are provided with integral shaft extensions at their outerends, which are journaled in'standards 44 and 48, and between thestandards 44 and 48,said shafts are provided with driving-pi'nions 49,which mesh with an interposed pinion 50, fast on the main driving ordriven shaft 51 of the machine, said shaft 51 being mounted in bearingsin the standard 48 and in a terminal bearingstandard 52.

53 designates a power-transmittingor band wheel fast on the shaft 51 andfrom which the power derived from the engine may be transmitted bysuitable belting or gearing to the desired point.

From the foregoing description it will be understood that thepiston-rods of the engine are arranged parallel to each other and havean alternating reciprocatory movement and that the operating devicescarried thereby cooperate with their respective screw-shafts, so as todrive the same in corresponding throws of the piston-rods. In this wayone or the other of the operating devices is always in action andcontinuous power and rotation are transmitted to the driving-shaft, thusovercoming the dead-centers due to the employment of a crank-axleand'pitmen, &c.

I' do not desire to be limited to the specific construction andarrangement hereinabove set forth, but reserve the right to change,modify, or vary the construction within the scope of this invention.

Having thusdescrib'ed the invention, what is claimed, and desired to besecured by Letters Patent, is

1. The combination with a double-cylinder engine and the parallelalternating reciprocatingpiston-rods thereof; of parallel screws,pinions on the outer ends of the screws, sleeves slidably mounted on thescrews and connected to the piston-rods and formed with interiorchambers, pivotally-supported nut-segnients in the said chambers andadapted to engage the screws in the outward movement of the sleeves, adriving-shaft and a pinion on the driving-shaft in mesh with the pinionson the screws.

2. The combination with a double-cylinder engine and the parallelalternating reciprocating piston-rods thereof of a mechanism forconnecting the reciprocative motion of the piston-rods into continuousrotary motion, comprisingsuitably-journaledparallelscrews, pinionsmounted on the shafts of the screws, a driving shaft, a pinion mountedthereon in mesh with the pinions of the screws, sleeves connected to thepiston-rods and slidably mounted over the screws, and formed with anenlargement having upper and lower arms and an interior chamber, guidesin which the arms of the sleeves engage, nut segments pivotallysupported in the chambers of the sleeves and adapted to engage thescrews, and springs in the chambers bearing on the nutsegments.

3. The combination with a double-cylinder engine and parallelalternating reciprocatory piston-rods; of parallel screw-shafts gearedto the driving-shaft,- sleeves connected to the piston-rods and carryingoperating devices for the screw-shafts, the operating devices beingarranged so as to drive their respective screw-shafts in correspondingthrows of the piston-rods, upper and lower arms connected to thesleeves, and upper and lower guidingyokes which are slotted to receivesaid arms.

4. The combination with a double-cylinder engine and parallelalternating reciprocatory piston-rods; of parallel screw-shafts gearedto the driving-shaft, sleeves connected to the piston-rods, operatingdevices carried by said sleeves and cooperating with the screw-shafts,the operating devices being arranged so as to drive their respectivescrew-shafts in corresponding throws of the piston-rods,verticallydisposed arms projecting in opposite directions from thesleeves, antifriction-rollers carried by said arms, and guiding-yokeshaving guideways in which the rollers move.

In testimony whereof I affix my signature in presence of two Witnesses.

CHARLES S. JOHNSON;

Witnesses:

JOHN FARQ'UHAR, M. O. MORAN.

